Appeal for witnesses of Patryk Krupa disappearance

Man (23) discovered partially submerged in River Shannon near Athlone in June

Gardaí in Athlone have appealed for anyone who may have seen the car Patryk Krupa left Athlone Town in on Friday, June 20th to contact them. The body of Mr Krupa was discovered partially submerged in the river Shannon. Photograph: Michaela Rehle/Reuters

Gardaí in Athlone are appealing for anyone who may have seen the car Patryk Krupa left Athlone town in on Friday, June 20th to contact them.

The body of Mr Krupa (23) was discovered that same day partially submerged in the river Shannon on a stretch near Athlone where the river separates Roscommon and Westmeath.

A Garda investigation into Mr Krupa’s death found that he left Athlone town at about 6.30 on Friday evening in a black BMW 3 series car, partial registration number ’06 D’.

It is believed there were four other occupants in the car, three of whom have been interviewed by gardaí. They have appealed for the fourth person to contact the Athlone Garda station.

The investigation believes the car was driven from Athlone town to an area known as the ’Number 1’ underneath the Athlone by-pass at Boffagin in Co Roscommon. The vehicle was later found parked in a housing estate near Cornamaddy, Athlone in the early hours of Saturday June 21st.

Leszek Sychulec (32) appeared before a special sitting of Athlone District Court, Co Westmeath, on June 22nd charged with assault causing harm to Patryk Krupa at Bogganfin on the Roscommon-Westmeath border.

The accused, a Polish man, was also charged with the false imprisonment of Mr Krupa, who was also from Poland, on the same date and at the same location.

Mr Sychulec, with an address at Drinan, Ballymahon, Co Longford, faced a third charge of threatening to kill or cause harm to Ewa Krasinska at Athlone Garda station.

Giving evidence to the court hearing, Garda Aidan Lyons said he arrested Mr Sychulec at Athlone Garda station at 11.50am on Sunday June 22nd and cautioned him on each of the three charges.

He told Judge Seamus Hughes the accused made no reply when the charges were put to him.

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Supt Noreen McBrien, who applied to have the accused remanded in custody, told the court that further charges may follow from the continuing investigation.

The court was told the accused had no bank account, was not in receipt of social welfare and was being financially supported by his partner.

Gardaí have released a special appeal to members of the Polish community, calling for anyone with information on the car and death of Mr Krupa to contact the Athlone station on 0906 498550.